Thursday, December 6, 2012

"The recent clashes at the Itihadiyya presidential palace leave little room for
confusion. A day prior to these events, people
took to the streets in Egypt’s largest cities to denounce the manner
in which the Muslim Brotherhood-controlled presidency has been running the
country. On Wednesday 5 December, everything changed. The Muslim Brotherhood
reacted by calling on supporters of President Mohamed Morsi to march to the
Itihadiyya palace, where an anti-Morsi sit-in was ongoing. Morsi’s supporters
forced protesters out and destroyed their tents. A little past mid-afternoon all
the demonstrators were kicked out and replaced by Morsi’s supporters....

Muslim Brotherhood supporters were attacking using rocks, shotguns, blanks, live
ammunition, and teargas. Their push split the crowd into three main fronts, one
on each side of three intersections, namely al-Khalifa al-Ma’moun Street,
Mansheyet El Bakry Street and Roxy Square. Clashes continued in various places.
I moved toward al-Khalifa Al-Ma’moun Street. The clashes continued on all fronts
with Brotherhood supporters outnumbering protesters, showing signs of strong
organization in their attacks, and possession of superior fire power......

Meanwhile, teargas was fired at anti-Morsi protesters from behind the
Brotherhood’s lines. The police were present on the Brotherhood side of the
clashes, but not the other.

The show of force, the disregard to opposition and the people, and the strong
insistence on monopolizing power are strong indications that Muslim Brotherhood
leaders do not intend to lend their ear to anyone but their own......"